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Stars: James Earl Jones, Lynn Redgrave, Margot Kidder, Tommy Redmond Hicks, Ronald F. Hoiseck, Linden Chiles | Written by Anthony C. Winkler | Directed by Charles Burnett

There are few more recognisable actors in cinema history than James Earl Jones. His iconic voice brought Darth Vader to life, but he starred in many feature films during his illustrious career, including Blood Tide and The UFO Incident.

As James Earl Jones’ career was winding down at the turn of the century in 1999, he starred in one of his last on-screen roles in The Annihilation of Fish. Surprisingly, this film has never been released on home video, until now. Kino Lorber is now giving this offbeat romantic film a Blu-ray debut!

Obidiah “Fish” Johnson (James Earl Jones), a Jamaican widower recently released from a mental hospital, despite his continuing battles against an invisible demon named Hank. Relocating to Los Angeles, he moves into the boarding house of eccentric landlady,...

Charles Burnett’s little-seen 1999 dramedy The Annihilation of Fish is a curious outlier in the filmography of a director best known for his lyrical realism and interest in the ways that people’s characters are informed by their surroundings and history. Here is a story of old, lonely souls each possessed of a form of mental illness that only further isolates them until circumstances bring them together, at which point they navigate each other’s foibles in ways that gradually allow them to confront their own.

Obadiah “Fish” Johnson (James Earl Jones), a Jamaican immigrant and widower who’s regularly assaulted by an invisible demon named Hank, journeys from New York to Los Angeles and ends up lodging in a house alongside Poinsettia (Lynn Redgrave), who’s spent years in an imagined relationship with the long-dead Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Their landlady, the widowed Mrs. Muldroone (Margot Kidder), is...

It’s not coming from a major studio, but there actually is a new romantic comedy getting a U.S. theatrical release this Valentine’s Day weekend — never mind that it was shot more than 25 years ago. The late James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave star as aging neighbors turned tender lovers in “The Annihilation of Fish,” newly restored in 4K from Kino Lorber and Milestone Films.

Playing New York now before expanding to Los Angeles and select cities, the film not only finds two terrific actors — three, including Margot Kidder — working at the top of their games, but also sees them united with director Charles Burnett. Once limited to laurels within the independent film community, Burnett’s name has been canonized in recent years, after the re-premiere of his UCLA thesis film “Killer of Sheep” — a funny, haunting and altogether ineffable slice of neorealism set in L.A.’s Watts neighborhood.

Though the man himself has sadly passed on, it seems that James Earl Jones will return to the big screen at least once more. Charles Burnett's long-lost film The Annihilation of Fish was a 1999 comedy starring Jones that has never seen the light of day until now, thanks to a faithful restoration and theatrical release set for this upcoming Valentine's Day.

First screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival, The Annihilation of Fish earned a review so devastating that the film's imminent theatrical release was canceled by its distributor. For those who might consider this an overreaction, I urge you to check out the full review in Variety, as it contains such scathing gems as "The Annihilation of Fish is a minnow of a movie" and "there is nothing in Anthony C. Winkler’s script that is so unimportant that he doesn’t believe in repeating it several times over.

The Tcl Chinese Theatre will host benefit showings of two films: “Superman” and “2001: A Space Odyssey,” with 100% of the ticket sales and concession sales to be donated to L.A. wildfire victim relief. Both featured films will play in the Tcl Theatre’s main auditorium.

Richard Donner’s “Superman,” which originally premiered at the Chinese Theatre in 1978, will screen Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3:30 pm, presented in 4k. Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” will screen Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7pm, presented in IMAX.

Proceeds from both screenings will benefit the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Foundation, Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers foundation. Tickets run $25 and available for pre-booking via the Tcl Chinese Theatre website.

Friday, Jan. 17 Lost Charles Burnett Film, ‘The Annihilation of Fish,’ To Release in Theaters for First Time

“The Annihilation of Fish,” directed by Charles Burnett, has...

Spoiler Alert: This story gives away details of the second season of Netflix’s Squid Game.

Paul Potts used to sell cellphones at a British store called Carphone Warehouse before he won the first season of Britain’s Got Talent.

He is not someone you expect to be soundtracking a bloody game of Russian roulette in the second season of Netflix’s Squid Game.

But it is his version of Nessun Dorma, an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot – a song popularized by Luciano Pavarotti during the 1990 FIFA World Cup – that plays over the violent subplot in the first episode of the Korean drama series.

In the opening episode of the sophomore season, Lee Jung-Jae’s Gi-Hun is searching for The Salesman, played by Train to Busan star Gong Yoo, who works as a recruiter for the Squid Games, playing Ddakji with them to get them to...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Maria.

The ending of Netflix's 2024 biopic Maria displays Maria Callas's emotional swan song, portrayed by Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie. Jolie, best known for her roles in films such as Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Girl, Interrupted, returns in her first feature film since Marvel's 2021 action blockbuster Eternals. Jolie has also directed several films, such as First They Killed My Fathers (2017) and Unbroken (2014). Jolie took a break from acting from 2021's Eternals until 2024's Maria to focus on spending more time with her six kids, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Maria depicts the final days in the life of Maria Callas, who was once considered the greatest opera singer in the world. The film takes place in 1970s Paris as Maria's health declines. Jolie leads Maria's cast as the titular protagonist who sees the world through a hallucinogenic and fading lens with her loyal butler,...

Netflix's new animated holiday film That Christmas has an exciting soundtrack with enough nostalgia to bring together the perfect story. That Christmas has a stellar cast, which includes stars like Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy. Directed by Simon Otto with a screenplay by Richard Curtis and Peter Souter, That Christmas is the ideal family film to get into the holiday spirit. The Netflix movie revolves around the residents of the fictional British town, Wellington-on-Sea, as they deal with an unexpected blizzard that derails many of their holiday plans.

That Christmas is one of several new Christmas movies released in 2024, but it is easily one of the best due to its heartwarming storylines, stunning animation, and excellent soundtrack. The ending of That Christmas pulls this wonderful holiday film together. Although composer John Powell created the film's score, Michael Roberts modified several well-known songs for the film's soundtrack.

Europe’s largest cosplay get together, Italy’s Lucca Comics and Games returns for its 58th edition over the Halloween weekend, with thousands of fans descending on the medival Tuscan town to celebrate all things geek. From TV shows launched by the top streamers to video, tabletop and role-playing games, comic books and horror movies, Lucca showcases the latest in fandom, paying homage to the pervasive power of pop culture at large.

And that is why “The Butterfly Effect” is the theme of this year’s edition, being held Oct. 30-Nov. 3.

Lucca Comic and Games has over almost 60 years accomplished a fantastic butterfly effect, artistic director Emanuele Vietina tells Variety. It’s become a type of event that’s being embraced by the world, from South Asia to all of Europe and North and South America, he points out. (See separate interview with Vietina). Significantly, this year’s poster is...

This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Frasier."

Throughout "Frasier" and its 1993-2004 run, one of the best recurring characters was Harriet Sansom Harris' Bebe Glazer. An unscrupulous, shrewish agent who Niles (David Hyde Pierce) once described as "Lady Macbeth without the sincerity," Bebe was always bringing some sort of media deal to Frasier that threatened to undermine his integrity while netting him (and Bebe) a large paycheck. But while she was conniving, manipulative, and often just flat-out ridiculous, Frasier's agent always maintained a dogged commitment to her client.

In order to do what she thought was best for Frasier, however, she would often come up with some of the most absurd schemes ever seen on the show. "Frasier" frequently dabbled in farce, which made for some delightfully unlikely scenarios. But whenever Bebe showed up, you knew the limits of credulity were about to be stretched even further.

Doctor Who TV movie writer Matthew Jacobs has reunited with Paul McGann for a new Big Finish audio story.

To date, Paul McGann’s total screen time as the Doctor clocks in at under two hours, and the majority of that can be credited to screenwriter Matthew Jacobs, who penned the 1996 TV Movie. Though it’s perhaps not the most beloved piece of Doctor Who media, most fans now acknowledge that it’s an important bridge between the classic series and the glossy sheen and higher production values of the revived show.

The film saw Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor land in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 1999, before promptly being gunned down outside the Tardis. He regenerates into Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor, and teams up with Doctor Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) to fight The Master, who’s taken over the body of a paramedic (Eric Roberts) and...

Billy Joel made sure his 150th and final residency show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden was a special one. The Piano Man was joined by none other than Axl Rose for three songs during the historic concert.

The Guns N’ Roses singer was introduced by Joel in the middle of the set, receiving a loud roar from the sold-out arena. After the two rock legends embraced, Joel and his band broke into a cover of Wings’ “Live and Let Die” (a song famously performed by Gn’R), with Rose handling lead vocals.

They followed that up with a cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” another song Rose is very familiar with, having fronted AC/DC back in 2016 when Brian Johnson had to step away from the band due to hearing issues.

The show resumed without Axl throughout the rest of the main set, but the...

The iconic Piano Man, Billy Joel, is prepared to bid farewell to the stage of one of the world’s most renowned concert venues, New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

After a remarkable run of over 150 performances at the legendary arena, the 75-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will take the stage one last time on July 25, and bring an end to an era that has captivated music enthusiasts for decades.

Joel’s history with Madison Square Garden dates back to December 1978, when he first graced the arena’s stage, riding the wave of success from his acclaimed album The Stranger. In the 45 years that have since passed, the renowned singer-songwriter has cemented his place in the annals of Msg history, and set records for “Most Lifetime Performances By Any Artist” and “Most Consecutive Performances By Any Artist.”

In the lead-up to his swan song, Joel has made...

Get the latest scoop on everything you need to know about today’s Jeopardy! episode airing on Monday, July 8 2024 including the Final Jeopardy, contestants and today’s winner!

Today’s Final Jeopardy 7/8/2024 (Opera) – Monday, July 8 2024

The melody of a traditional piece for the Koto called “Echigo-jishi” is used in Act 1 of this opera

Today’s Final Jeopardy Answer – Monday, July 8 2024

The Final Jeopardy Answer is: Madama Butterfly

Final Jeopardy Explanation – Monday, July 8 2024

The melody of the traditional piece for the koto, “Echigo-jishi,” is used in Act 1 of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly.” This opera, first performed in 1904, is set in Nagasaki, Japan, and Puccini incorporated several authentic Japanese melodies into the score to lend cultural and atmospheric authenticity to the work. “Echigo-jishi” is one of these melodies, reflecting Puccini’s efforts to infuse the opera with a genuine sense of place and tradition, adding depth to the Japanese setting of the story.

Variety is debuting the trailer (above) for Ivana Gloria’s feature debut “Chlorophyll” (Clorofilla), which will receive its international premiere Wednesday as part of the Proxima Competition at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

The film starts with a young girl, Maia, dashing through the undergrowth in a moonlit wood, her heart racing in sync with the rhythm of the natural world. The night air is thick with anticipation as she seeks refuge within the arms of nature.

Now grown into a woman, Maia feels an inexplicable attraction toward the trees, flowers, and the very essence of the natural world. Teo, a shy young man with secrets hidden in his greenhouse, becomes her companion. Together, Maia and Teo navigate the transition from human form to becoming one with nature — an understanding forged through friendship, attraction, and a love that transcends both flesh and foliage.

The film was written by Marco Borromei,...

New York City Opera is proud to announce a special two-night event celebrating the centennial of Giacomo Puccini’s passing. The “Puccini Celebration” will be a part of the Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America on May 31 and June 1, 2024, at 7:00 Pm. This tribute to one of opera’s greatest composers will take place at Bryant Park, NYC.

Event Details Date & Time: May 31 & June 1, 2024, at 7:00 Pm Location: Bryant Park, 42nd Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas), NYC, NY Entry: First-come, first-served basis. No tickets required. Amenities: Free picnic blankets available for borrowing. A Casual and Inclusive Experience

Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances are designed to be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere. Audience members can expect ample seating and are encouraged to bring their own picnics to enjoy during the performances. For those unable to attend in person, a free nationwide livestream will be...

Que Nadie Duerma, or Something Is About to Happen, by Antonio Mendez Esparza explores a woman’s gradual descent into madness as she slowly loses the aspects of her life that make her human. In this psychological thriller, through the protagonist’s experiences, Esparza explores the darker nature of human behavior and the consequences of preying on those who are more vulnerable. This theme serves as a morbid commentary on the moral fabric of society. As the protagonist develops an obsession with another character, we see her deal with her self-image and how those around her slowly scavenge the pillars that protect her sanity. Despite its recurring theme about the disappearing line between fiction and reality, Something Is About to Happen holds a sense of realism with its similarities to the real world.

Spoilers Ahead

What Is Lucia’s Story?

Lucia, a software developer in her 30s employed by a firm in Madrid,...

Billy Joel‘s Madison Square Garden (Msg) concerts are coming to an end, but there’s still time to see him at the famous New York City arena.

The New York local first began performing for Msg in 2014 and, in October, started the countdown to his last ten shows. The “Uptown Girl” singer currently holds the record for most appearances at Msg.

“Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe as far as I’m concerned,” Joel is known to have said. “It has the best acoustics, the best audiences, the best reputation, and the best history of great artists who have played there. It is the iconic, holy temple of rock and roll for most touring acts and, being a New Yorker, it holds a special significance to me.”

Joel is not only busy doing the last shows at Msg but is also performing around the country with...

Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli is currently on tour and has concerts all throughout 2024.

A few days ago, Bocelli announced some concert postponements due to “health challenges” and offered rescheduled dates. In a Facebook post, the Italian singer made another announcement that his voice was back and that he would be performing at both the original and rescheduled dates.

“I’m double honored and grateful because in my heart, I am already at Madison Square Garden, where I’ll be singing to celebrate Christmas on Wednesday and Thursday,” Bocelli’s post read. “I want to embrace New York and the entire nation in song, thanking them again for their love, and also for their patience. Speaking of patience, it’s a virtue I’ve had to practice recently by stopping and listening silently to what my body needed: some time to recover from a winter cold.”

Shortly after his doctors...

The countdown to Billy Joel’s last Madison Square Garden concert has begun.

On October 20, the first of Joel’s last ten concerts at Msg kicked off to a nostalgic start as he sang his top hits like “Uptown Girl” and “Piano Man” throughout the show. That Friday, he told his fans he had “bad news” and “good news.”

“The bad news is I don’t have any new songs for you,” he said during the concert. “The good news is you don’t have to sit through songs you didn’t know that you don’t want to hear in the first place.”

Since 2014, the Grammy singer has played one show at Msg every month. The 74-year-old currently holds the most appearances at Msg and is planning to end at 150 shows next year.

Joel isn’t just focusing on his Msg shows though, as he is also going around...

Ten years after clinching Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize with “Aquí y allá,” and half a decade following “Life and Nothing More,” which earned a John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards – a film Variety hailed as ‘outstanding’—Antonio Méndez Esparza returns with his fourth feature, “Something is About to Happen.”

Co-written with Clara Roquet, a Critics’ Week-selected director for “Libertad,” Esparza’s latest film delves into the life of Lucía, who loses her It job at a failing dental firm and becomes a taxi driver.

The profession she chooses is apt as we follow a character sat in loneliness moving among people while longing to connect deeply with someone. The clarity of the title and immediate rising strings of the soundtrack set the screw of tension turning in this fascinating character piece.

Esparza’s previous two features have a neorealist, almost documentary-like quality, working with non actors and using improvisation heavily.

Making the best of a bad situation is often easier said than done. When characters live a life of poverty, several are battling life-threatening diseases, and it seems like there is absolutely no relief in the near future, a storyline can fall into a dark place. In 1996, Jonathan Larson thought differently. He took the daily struggles of the average person in East Village, New York along with inspiration from Giacomo Puccini's opera, La boheme, and he created a piece of art that shed light on harsh truths in an upbeat way. Larson was able to focus on devastating topics while maintaining a sense of hope for each of the spirited characters.

In 2005, Chris Columbus took on the challenge of adapting Larson's play, Rent, into a musical film to make the unique story more accessible to people. He managed to keep six of the original Broadway cast members, so the...

New York, April 6, 2023– On Site Opera, New York’s pioneering opera company rooted in site-specific storytelling and the immersive experience, in partnership with the South Street Seaport Museum, brings drama and tragedy to Pier 16 on and around the historic lightship Ambrose with Puccini and Adami’s Il tabarro (The Cloak), May 14-17. This immersive outdoor musical experience follows last April’s production of Gianni Schicchi as part of the company’s multi-year cycle of Puccini’s Il Trittico.

On Site Opera music director Geoffrey McDonald conducts, and visual artist and opera director Laine Rettmer guest directs this brooding one act opera of a jealous love triangle that turns deadly on the banks of the Seine River. Staged on the lightship and on the pier where the audience is seated, the historic seaport offers the sights and sounds of 1900’s Paris where barge owner Michele, portrayed by baritone Eric McKeever, suspects his wife Giorgetta,...

Fans of mangaka and director, Katsuhiro Otomo, known for Akira (1988), won't want to miss a 90s sci-fi anime anthology. Memories (1995) is now streaming and it includes a must-see story as its introductory feature. Severely underrated, it was released on home video in North America in recent years but can now be streamed by anime fans.

Originally released in 1995 in Japan, then in the U.S. two years later, Memories is an anthology film comprising three separate features: Magnetic Rose, Stink Bomb, and Cannon Fodder. Each is based on manga short stories written by Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo. With a screenplay by Satoshi Kon, Magnetic Rose is directed by Kōji Morimoto. Stink Bomb is directed Tensai Okamura with a screenplay by Otomo. Cannon Fodder is directed and written by Otomo. While there are three short films, the highlight of the grouping is definitely Magnetic Rose.

Related: Demon Slayer, Spy x Family,...

Giacomo Puccini was an Italian composer who revolutionized the way opera is written, performed, and enjoyed. His music is still heard in operas worldwide and has inspired countless musicians and singers of modern times.

Puccini’s music was unique, blending elements of traditional Italian operas with newer styles pioneered by other major composers of his era. He wrote some of the most beloved operas of all time, such as La Boheme and Tosca.

In this article, we’ll explore the life and music of Giacomo Puccini and look at why his work is still so popular today. We’ll also discuss how his influence has been carried on by modern opera composers. Finally, we will examine the impact that he had on the world of opera and how his music continues to be enjoyed today.

Biography of Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was an Italian composer and one of the...

Maria Callas was one of the most influential singers of the 20th century.

Her powerful voice, powerful presence, and passionate performances have left an indelible mark on opera and classical music. To this day, her legacy continues to inspire young singers and aficionados alike.

Maria Callas brought a new level of emotion and intensity to the opera stage by combining brilliant technique with a deep expression of pathos. Her spellbinding performance of the famous opera Carmen stunned audiences across the world and made her a household name. She also collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors of her time, who praised her for her musical intelligence and faultless intonation.

This article will take a look at the legacy of Maria Callas and celebrate her influence on classical music. It will explore her life story, pivotal career moments, remarkable performances, and lasting impact on future generations.

Maria Callas: A Biography...

Prolific animator and manga-ka Satoshi Kon had a sustained interest in exploring the nature of reality, particularly the way in which humans interact with their perception of what's real. This thematic fascination encapsulates Kon's body of work, which deal with characters oscillating between objective reality and constructed ones, with the line between the two getting increasingly blurred as the narrative progresses.

Kon's most famous work, "Perfect Blue," which is considered his magnum opus, exclusively revolves around a J-pop star-turned-actor losing their grip on reality while crumbling under the weight of worldly perception, voyeurism, and fractured identity. Similar themes are also peppered throughout "Paprika" and "Millennium Actress" — films that further hone Kon's vision of crafting realistic worlds that harbor something sinister beneath a pretty facade. However, Kon first forayed into these themes as early as 1995, when he collaborated with "Akira" animator Kōji Morimoto on "Magnetic Rose."

Kon's "Magnetic Rose" still...

Note: the following contains spoilers up to “The White Lotus” Season 2 Episode 6

As “The White Lotus” Season 2 comes to a close, Sunday’s episode will reveal which characters are killed as each subplot comes to its climax.

The season premiere opened with Daphne (Meghann Fahy) going for a final swim in the Sicilian sea before discovering a dead body floating in the ocean. As she cries for help on the beach, Rocco (Federico Ferrante) informs Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) that “other guests have been killed” for reasons unknown at the time.

The opening scene indicates that Daphne, Valentina and Rocco are safe from being killed, and the absence of other major characters have left fans to theorize how they think season 2 might wrap up.

If you’re dying to know what happens in the season finale, read on for the biggest fan theories.

Harper, Ethan and Cam are safe

While Daphne...

Italy’s Lucca Comics & Games, which is Europe’s biggest pop-culture and cosplay meet, is back in full post-pandemic swing with a slew of premieres and high-caliber talent set to engage with thousands of fans in the medieval Tuscan town.

The immersive Oct. 28-Nov. 1 event, dedicated to fandom and the whole universe of comics — including movies, TV and music – has been increasingly gaining traction with studios and streamers. So much so that Netflix has chosen Lucca to launch Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” series, starring Jenna Ortega as gothic feminist icon Wednesday Addams. The hotly anticipated show’s first episode will have its European fan screening on Oct. 31 in the Renaissance gem with Burton in tow.

In the series, Wednesday attends Nevermore Academy, where she attempts to master her new psychic abilities and solve a murder mystery connected to the Addams family’s past.

Lucca Comics – which regularly attracts more than...

Jennifer Hudson and fellow American Idol alum Adam Lambert busted out a serious high-brow, deep cut duet on The Jennifer Hudson Show: the classic aria from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot, “Nessun dorma.”

As Lambert explains in a brief interview before the performance, he learned the song in an opera course he took in high school, describing the class as “really good training,” similar to a dancer studying a bit of ballet. And though he learned a lot, he mostly left that world behind.

Then, this summer, Lambert and Queen were touring Italy,...

Laverne Cox is a woman of many talents.

The “Orange Is the New Black” star chats to Jennifer Hudson on the latest episode of her talk show.

The pair discuss their love of classical music, with Cox admitting she actually studies opera.

She shares, “I study opera… on and off since 1996, I love opera. I just wanted to study it to see if I could do it.”

Cox adds, “It’s fun and it’s fun to hit high notes,” before praising Hudson for her cover of Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessun dorma” in homage to Aretha Franklin.

Read More: Laverne Cox’s Twin Brother M Lamar Unveiled On ‘Claim To Fame’ With Inspiring Speech

Hudson then asks Cox to perform the iconic aria, and she obliges, showing off her impressive voice.

See more in the clip above.

Read More: Laverne Cox Shares Her Excitement At Having Her Own Tribute Barbie...

Revolution Films makes distribution debut with ‘Eleven Days In May’.

Disney opens its first theatrical release in almost three months this weekend: Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, which will look to replicate Marvel success at the UK-Ireland box office.

The fifth title in ‘Phase Four’ of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the 28th overall, Multiverse will start in 685 locations, having opened on Thursday.

That number is the widest release in the series, two ahead of Avengers: Endgame from 2019. That film took a £31.4m opening weekend, still the record in the UK and Ireland by a comfortable margin...

From a recording of Hamilton dropping on Disney+ to In the Heights hitting the big screen, Lin-Manuel Miranda has been having a moment bringing his onstage work to a broader audience. Now, he's making his feature-length directorial debut with Netflix's Tick, Tick… Boom! (out Nov. 19), paying homage to his musical theater roots by adapting Rent creator Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical of the same name. Starring Andrew Garfield as Larson, the film follows the legendary composer as he contemplates his career choices before his 30th birthday. Here's what you should know about the life that inspired the musical, a life that was tragically cut short at age 35.

Larson, who became worried about his career while waiting tables in New York City, first performed Tick, Tick... Boom! as a solo act in 1990. The musical centers on Jon, or Larson, as he starts to hear a ticking sound just before his 30th birthday.

Jennifer Hudson delivered a striking performance of the aria “Nessun Dorma” at We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert.

New York’s ‘Homecoming’ Show: An All-Star Concert Becomes a Pandemic Metaphor

Joined by the New York Philharmonic, the Respect star belted the Giacomo Puccini opera tune to an audience of 60,000 people in Central Park. It was notably the same classical piece Aretha Franklin had performed at the Grammys in 1998.

Jennifer Hudson singing nessun dorma just made me cry #WeLoveNYCConcert pic.twitter.com/Y27WFh1nqn

— Aria (@aria_is_chicc) August 21, 2021

On August 19th,...

Dylan Sprouse is heading back to the small screen.

The former Disney star is joining Mindy Kaling's HBO Max original, The Sex Lives of College Girls, according to Variety.

This is his first major TV role since he and his brother, Cole, exited their Disney Channel series The Suite Life back in 2011.

Sprouse is on board the series play Nico, a junior at the prestigious New England university, where we meet the college girls at the wheel of the story.

The cast also includes Pauline Chalamet as Kimberly, Amrit Kaur as Bela, Reneé Rapp as Leighton, and Alyah Chanelle Scott as Whitney.

Sprouse is most well-known these days for his work on the big screen, most recently starring in After We Collided, and before that, Banana Split.

He will also star in the Chinese big-screen adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” playing Prince Calaf.

It appears he is following the Zendaya route.

Dylan Sprouse is returning to TV.

The former Disney Channel star has signed on for Mindy Kaling’s HBO Max series “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” Variety has learned exclusively, marking his first big television role since his Disney days ended in 2011.

He joins previously announced leads Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé Rapp and Alyah Chanelle Scott in the series which revolves around four roommates at Essex College, a prestigious New England university.

Sprouse will play a character named Nico, a junior at Essex who interacts with the four roommates in question, who are Kimberly (Chalamet), the valedictorian of a working-class public high school in a humble Arizona suburb, Bela (Kaur), a comedy-obsessed, super confident cornball from the affluent suburbs of northern New Jersey, Leighton (Rapp), who would describe herself as a normal, classy girl from a great family, and finally Whitney (Scott), the soon-to-be star of the Essex soccer team.

Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu finally reopened on Monday after months of inactivity due to Covid-19 — to an audience of approximately 2,292 house plants.

A string quartet performed Giacomo Puccini’s “Crisantemi” to the packed house, livestreaming the concert via the Liceu’s website.

The opera house — which opened in 1847 — teamed up with conceptual artist Eugenio Ampudia for the event. The plants were brought in from local nurseries and were donated to healthcare professionals following the performance, mainly at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona. The donated plants were accompanied by a certificate from Ampudia.

It's been a lot more than just 525,600 minutes since Rent first made its Broadway debut. The iconic and beloved rock opera, loosely based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème and penned entirely by the late genius Jonathan Larson, first bowed on the Great White Way nearly 25 years ago at the fittingly once derelict Nederlander Theatre, premiering on April 29, 1996. And it truly was a season of love when it did. The show was rapturously received, earning 10 Tony nominations that year and taking home four, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, while also earning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Sadly, Larson wasn't around to bask in the acclaim or see his passion project go on to become the...

CBS Films’ upcoming documentary “Pavarotti” got its first look during the 61st Grammy Awards on Sunday night. It’s the third music doc from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, following his 2013 look at Jay-z’s “Made in America” and the 2016 doc “The Beatles: Eight Days A Week.”

Created from a combination of Luciano Pavarotti’s iconic performances — including his memorable performance of Giacomo Puccini’s aria “Nessun dorma” — and granted access to never-before-seen footage, “Pavarotti” promises an intimate portrait of the most beloved opera singer of all time.

“The reason why he is great is he lived those songs,” U2 frontman Bono says in the TV spot.

Also Read: Ron Howard's 'Pavarotti' Documentary Acquired by CBS Films

Howard is producing the film with Nigel Sinclair, Brian Grazer, Michael Rosenberg and Jeanne Elfant Festa; along with David Blackman, Nicholas Ferrall and Dickon Stainer serving as executive producers.

The film will...

Brennin Hunt, who was set to perform as Roger Davis in Fox’s live version of “Rent,” injured what was originally thought to be his ankle during the live dress rehearsal on Sat. 26. But, as they say, the show must go on.

Hunt posted a video in his Instagram story showing off his cast and confirming he broke his foot. The video showed one of the show’s costumers sewing him into a pair of pants that had to be customized to accommodate the cast. Hunt will be at the live event, although a source says they may have to use some pieces recorded from the Jan. 26 rehearsal for the broadcast given the nature of the physicality of his character’s choreography. Fox also confirmed that the original Broadway cast of the play will appear during the live broadcast of the show.

“The experience of putting together this beautiful new...

Tonight, Fox will air their third live musical production. Following in the footsteps of Grease and A Christmas Story, the network will be presenting Jonathan Larson's Rent, a rock musical that is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini's 1896 opera, La boheme. The story follows a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of Hivaids.

In the more than 20 years since Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” first debuted on Broadway, the conversation of adaptation has often come up: Film director Chris Columbus infamously brought the story to the big screen in 2005, Michael John Warren similarly shot one of the final performances of the original theater run in 2008, and talk about television wasn’t far behind. But in order for Larson’s family to feel ready to bring the project to a new medium, it had to be a combination of “the right timing [and] the right people,” says Julie Larson. Enter prolific producers such as Marc Platt, the show’s original director Michael Greif and the Fox network, and “Rent” is seeing a new life in the form of a live television musical on Jan. 27.

“What I see ‘Rent’ as is a throwback and a leap forward at the same time,” says executive producer Adam Siegel. “That...

Fox has announced the cast for its upcoming “Rent” live musical.

Recording artist Tinashe has been cast as Mimi Marquez, a dancer who struggles with addiction and catches the eye of musician and recovering addict Roger. Roger will be played by Brennin Hunt (“Nashville”).

Singer/songwriter Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton” and the 2017 winner of “Dancing with the Stars”) will play Mark, Roger’s filmmaker roommate and best friend, who serves as the show’s narrator.

Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease: Live”) will play Maureen Johnson, a performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend who is on-again-off-again dating Joanne. Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) is set to play Joanne Jefferson, an Ivy League-educated laywer.

Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”) will play Tom Collins, a computer scientist who returns to New York after being expelled from MIT. There he meets and falls in love with Angel Dumont Schunard,...

Twenty years ago at the 1998 Grammy Awards, the unsinkable Aretha Franklin did what, for many, may have been the unthinkable. She filled in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti and performed the aria “Nessun Dorma” from the Giacomo Puccini opera “Turandot.”

This wasn’t just the equivalent of Celine Dion stepping in for Barbra Streisand at the 1997 Oscars or Faith Hill covering for Whitney Houston at the Academy’s request in 2000. This was the Queen of Soul tackling classical music.

It was one of those hold-your-breath-and-then-lose-it moments. The fear that she couldn’t possibly pull it off was followed by relief, then astonishment, then pride, because she did. Franklin brought the house down and the entire audience up to their feet for what would go down as one of the most memorable performances in Grammy history.

Sadly, there will be no more unforgettable performances from Franklin. The 76-year-old singer died on...

The 2018 Tony Awards were graced with the drama students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who sang a touching rendition of “Seasons of Love” from the Tony-winning musical “Rent.”

They were introduced by former “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, who recently performed a benefit concert in support of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Parkland, Fla. high school.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas musical theater instructor Melody Herzfeld had just been awarded the 2018 Excellence in Theatre Education Award. Herzfeld saved 65 lives by barricading students into a small classroom closet on Valentine’s Day when a shooter went on a rampage, killing 17 people.

The original 1996 Broadway production of “Rent” was nominated for 10 Tony Awards. It won four, including best musical, best book for a musical, best original score, and best performance by a featured actor in a musical for Wilson Jermaine Heredia. Heredia played Angel Dumott Schunard.

.@Matt_Morrison welcomes the Marjory...

Dylan Sprouse is set to topline Turandot, a China-produced film directed by Xiaolong Zheng based on a screenplay from Xiaoping Wang. He’ll star alongside Chinese actress Guan Xiaotong.

Described as a fantasy romance, the plot follows Princess Turandot (Xiaotong), who is cursed by a mysterious power emanating from three Mazovian bracelets that were given to her as birthday gifts. These bracelets’ life-draining effects cause the princess to becomes cruel, and gradually she loses her humanity.

Foreign princes who come to court her must solve three riddles — one for each bracelet — and only then will she be freed from the power of the bracelets. In the event any of the questions is answered incorrectly, the attempted solver would be put to death. One day, Calaf (Sprouse), an ordinary citizen, risks his life to answer the riddles to save her and inadvertently uncovers his own extraordinary past.

The film, currently in production,...

Fox has a move-in date for Rent, its live production of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical: The show will go on January 27, the Sunday between the NFL Conference Championship Games and Super Bowl Liii. A re-imagining of Puccini's La Bohème, and set in New York City’s gritty East Village, Rent tells the story of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil. The show premiered on Broadway in April 1996 and ran to…...

A live production of Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical “Rent” is in the works at Fox. The network announced Friday that Marc Platt, the acclaimed film, television and theater producer behind “La La Land,” “Wicked” and last year’s “Grease: Live!,” will executive produce the show, along with Larson’s estate.

Read More: ‘A Christmas Story’ Live Musical Event from Marc Platt to Air on Fox This December

Larson’s re-imagining of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème” is set in New York City’s East Village. It tells the story of seven artists and their struggle to follow their dreams during a time of great social and political turmoil. The musical earned Larson four Tony Awards in 1996, including Best Musical and Best Original Score Written for the Theatre, and the Pulitzer Prize.

“‘Rent’​​ was Jonathan’s dream of sharing the ​theater and the passion he had for it with a whole new generation,...

Exclusive: CinemaLive will screen spectacular international operas, starting with La Bohème.

Event cinema distributors CinemaLive have launched a new brand called ‘The World’s Most Spectacular Operas’.

Through this, the company will broadcast operas from around the world in UK and Ireland cinemas.

The first event on July 5 will see them collaborate with Rising Alternative and Festival Euro Mediterraneo/Taormina Festival to broadcast Puccini’s La Bohème: Live from Taormina (pictured) in Sicily to 300 cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

Following that, CinemaLive will broadcast Carmen on the Lake, filmed at Constance Lake in Bregenz, Austria in September in the UK and Ireland, working with C-Major Entertainment.

The company has shown Opera Australia Handa Opera productions in the UK and Ireland for the past five years.

“We are extremely excited to launch this new brand for 2017, bringing more world class opera productions taking place in spectacular settings, to cinema audiences,” CinemaLive Director...

Exclusive: Company will air operas from around the world, starting with La Bohème.

Event cinema distributors CinemaLive have launched a new brand called ‘The World’s Most Spectacular Operas’.

Through this, the company will broadcast operas from around the world in UK and Ireland cinemas.

The first event on July 5 will see them collaborate with Rising Alternative and Festival Euro Mediterraneo/Taormina Festival to broadcast Puccini’s La Bohème: Live from Taormina (pictured) in Sicily to 300 cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

Following that, CinemaLive will broadcast Carmen on the Lake, filmed at Constance Lake in Bregenz, Austria in September in the UK and Ireland, working with C-Major Entertainment.

The company has shown Opera Australia Handa Opera productions in the UK and Ireland for the past five years.

“We are extremely excited to launch this new brand for 2017, bringing more world class opera productions taking place in spectacular settings, to cinema...